Spring scale



.May 29, 1923.

W. S. SMITH SPRING SCALE Filed Dec. 30 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 awaPatented .May 29, 192 3.

"UNIT stares genres-T OFFICE.

' warm erms, "di izb'lftr'msns, homo.

m-RING SCALE. hpplicatioqifilea uecembcril'ifl; i920. Seriai No. 433.9%

f i' -f j fl t'tee i omemz similar characters of reference denote likeBe m?! t T R'S. S ITH, a.citi and corresponding parts throughout the zenh UWW i Ql'fesidinggat Colum-, several views thereof 1 1 b f EPPPQ Y, f.flanldin andfState of Figure 1 is a side elevation of a scale confmYQ,Fteitain new;andwuseful= structed'in accordance with the principles P Ff of the invention, m fl qw fleie fipecificat ioii Figurefl is avertical tmmsverse sectional fjl" fi'jl y fi lrelates; gs ca lesjnd is,-i yiew.-taken through the weight indicating f lq fir,Confined,tothesprintbal diinechanisrii -of the scale and the )actuating"tame -E g acin asheeniprovi remand: struptureztherefor,

tthe pans d 7 I F v a v y, aye. ,ee s arrange and asso igure 31sRVGItICBI SGCUOHQl \lew taken li th e mechanism will, dthro' ugh thestructure disclosed in Figure 2,

frwithz'gais 'wit o' e nits Hway afe F are 4' is a-horiz0ntal" sectionalview f giisfier anr take falong-the plane disclosed by the line ti esr the; ti l+4ofvhiigfi1re 2, and

di ilthejs aliex it jfieatiires of;myinyenhi Figure 5-is'aidetailsectional yieivof one tioii fliet that; entigesealegmeelia iipf theconnections between one of the balancnisn ji'sj ighfi'ected hy such' inuences andn-ing s ringsand the actuato r. 4 cbnditi'dn's', js le y'el,large; temperature varia sli Re erring' more'particuiarly to the detailsht i aa g mgmae tten v ra ei s r inventionan embodiment thereof has ejii' sprlng strpc ure -i's so,arranged and bee'nshown in theaccompanying drawings, 'eonstructed thatnteinmrature; rariationi is s'niiithich-the numeral 1 aiitpmatically compensated forand correc'tedproved scale in its entirety. In the illus- "s b thjzit wei'ht iresultat alltemnera-Jtrated embodiment of'the invention the unhother ob 'ectohmy inyeption to overscale, the numeral 3 the weight orcommodcome-o'rre of th'e inherenti structural.errorsgity receivingplatform thereof. Situated to -'within thebase 2 is the usual masterbeam 4,

m ma scalesof this .type, namely hold themaiii functioning oscillatoryele-. which is pivotally mounted as at 5 upon one adent ofthe-weighingmechanism firmly in -of the interior walls of a base. Thisbeam ilts'iseat'under all, conditions; such as rapid is centrallypivoted intermediately of its :application of weigl tsror their, removalor length, as at 6, with the forward end of an t); udden applicatio s,of ,weights. By ordinary Y lever 7, the latter having its properlymaintaining he parts seated under mear-ends pivoted'as at 8 to the base2. Dethese conditions 1 am assured of a proper pending from the latform3 are the usual fielght registration. rigid legs 9, which have theirlower ends A.furth er object of this invention also is connectedby'means of longitudinally ex- HIBAPIIQVKSIO'D ofastru'cture andarrangement tending members 10. Flexible connections of Weighingprinciple which may be readily 1 1 of ordinary utility are providedbetween combined withan indicating structure with I the beam 4, thelever 7 and the members 10, any d gree of multiplication between the andoperate in the usual manner to pull the two; In this'manner, a scalehaving-a large I or a small canacitv maybe very readily conweight to theplatform 3. This base coir I struction is to be found in theaverageplatand other objects in..view, as' form type of scale, and hencethe same in Wlll appear as the descriptionproceeds, the itself doesnotenter into the present invenjdingly cousists in the novel 1 tion exce tin a mere cooperative sense f Of truction combinations of with certainof theremaining elements of the e ements and arrangements of. arts,hereinscale to be hereinafter'described. It will be after t 0 be fullvdescribed an pointed out understood, however; by thdprovision 'of i pp Cm the connections set forth the beam 4 will be I forming oscillated adistance regulated by the charn the accompanying drawings, a part ofthis specification, and in which acter of the we gh p 1 the P designatesthe iml form 3, and that the disposition of the tion 26, and is securedto said surface by weight, upon said platform will also not efmeans of aset screw 33. Obviously, through feet the degree of oscillation of saidbeam. the provision of the un iqrnai) any lackness ing i rpm the base gisatubular stand which may exist or; deed; the conrg i gfiilriclifinaj'be bfen ..desieea height, election 27 may be readily taken up. By t eupper end thereof being terminated'i n the construction described itwill be appara flange 13. Connected with this jlange lseeent thatuponzapplication of weight to the the lower end of a casing 14, in whichis enplatform 3 the beam 4 will be oscillated, housed the weightindicating meehanismrof eausing its free or rear end to be rocked thescale and the operating structure theredownwardly. This downwardmovement is for. Also, connectedgyittnqtheeouterepontion then=imparted"t6the connection 27 which, of the casing 14 is a suitable typeof scale by reason of its connection 33 with'theactudialn15;,w hichissuitablytgradliated toindiator 25, willcali'se'said'actuator to:bQifOCliBd cate any desired-numtieiimiepounds or fractions thereof,saidfdia 'vbhingproxiided with the usual weight. indiatingzifinger, orindicatorlfi ivyhi'ch is-oonixected with azsh'aft 1'7; for rotationaround the dial. I order; toutran'smit .motiomufrom the beam atqithe'indicatbr-ilfiin a manner prom rtionateto ithe fiharacter 'of theweight de-' L posited upon the platfor'm'l3,'.ithelfflange 13"- .nt thesceederaelaie provided wiebi'e lurali tyi of; upstanding ibol-ts' isaroimd w licll Sleeves i194 are, positioned. ellhe supper ends 9f the;boltseil 8 iiih ec positioned; within b enings provided withinafia-ngeQO of zigframe n21 whichhextendsfin 3m" uprightarnanner oro'scillated about'its trunnioned pivot 24. lt ill -beappreciat'edzthatitlm extent of oscillation of the aetuatori will begoi'erne'd proportiohately to the \iv'eizrht im posed upon the platform3.3

I The motion b'f the l actuatr'ir preferably transmitted to theindigtingmechanisih'K-IG by providin gjfthe efi atqitgwith an outercir'curn-r'erential 34, upon which is mounted the angufl a-il'y'egtending arm 35 of a 'gar 'segmen t 35beingiconne t a eub 'tbe n b' 5is; rigidl by me'ans Gfifalstnihgde vioes"37l The ise ent 36 is sopositioned th at one end hi the will normally mesh with at pihioii 38,carried by abinuhe. casingul. Jrbe ends r the bolts tbe' inai eeee ee'fej r'z' ja git jieiiew'e he; by 18 areequippediwith:'uitablemuts;where-Q'virtuebfthis"constructionftherotation of 5 by ithelifrarnfllizmaytpe secune'lywon'riected is biurmtednto Ipi'oviderrspa'ced' arms =22,

which: hal'e thein'finneri en'dsi termina ted in b 'filpedismkdtsfiiforitheirec ptidn of the lknife, edge. vtrimnions 124' of'the weig'ht inclilqltillg, mechhriismmiitfiatorfifi p This actuator;inuth fp'resentform of the inventiontis jshapedllto Eonstitute a drumthrough which Fthe, trunni'ons 24. axi ally project i d by,. thisconstr'uctionlthe'said actuator orfdrumisperinittedio piiiotallyoscillate upon itssuppcort by means of the-arms 22.-The,actuatdr 25includes a hub portion 26 ,which has an' outer surface dis posed concentrically with. respectlto vthepiv'otal axis of the actuator. iTo theouter surface of the portionithere jisfconnectedithe 'upper end of aphllconnction-Q? which unites the beam 4 and the actuatorforsimultaiieous more ment. This cdnnection consists of. a verticallyextending rod .28. ivhich has its louer end piv tally connected as at 29with the ,rearend oi ithe heam 4'; The rod 28extends upwardlytMDugh thetubular standard 12 ar ctt has its upperend .threaded to receive aunionv'lh'e oppositeendof this union ..1S,Q011,HQQLECl with athneaded stud31, which i .h as ,a bifurcated .end, and a flexible strap" 32zconstitltes' eh jfirnainder of the connec (tiQrL; 'llhisstraip hasits-lowerfend secured to e e, itu i d end of the stud:31,;whilethe p eepd pf, the strap '32' is trained a'found re circumtqgfi itial's unfaceofthe hubtporthe senator wnu gbe eez r-nee ,by nfii r movement on 't'h'e"part fof'jtheij segmerit; as which bfmshing Hithe pinio'n' 3.8, ",Willcausafhe' rotatioh of' the'shaft 17,,the1eby 'causingfthe rotati'on"b'fiithe ii idicatorf hand l-(i around thedialfztceiplfifthe inoyementof said hand in each operation gigoy erned why the exten t'ofoscillation" o f't e acitpator 25 "which, intui'h ,';has' os'cillatio iigovcrned by thecha racter otthe weightiiriposed upon the 'platform' 3lTo balancethe. actu-t ator, the same islpro ided witha depending wveight40; which compensates" for the inclusion of the offset segment,36,e.therehy halancing the actuatoras awhole. fTo furth'er effect thebalance ofthe actuator one sideo'f the same is provided with an ofi'setarm 41 whichisprovidedwith asegmental surface 42. A tape 43 is connectedwith the upper portion ofthis surface and has its lower end connectedwith a depending Weight 44, which Weight acts to counterbalauce theplatform structure and the connection l A primary feature of-thepresent-Juvention consists iupmyiglin ge spring'ba'lance for theactuator ,ivhich will normally serve to maintain s aidagtuatorinameutral position. and which' vyjlltendto resist movemento'nthe part of the actuator and will operate' t o error in the scale b vreasouof extraneousgi p'fiueuces. IIfoth s-en a pair of spriu 'jlfigareprovided- These springs areot it coiled contractabletype,

andhare their l'ower ends connected With the enlarged spirally groovedheads 46 of bolts 47, the latter having threaded shanks extended throughopenings provided in the flange of the frame 21 and maintained insecured relationship with said flange by nuts 48. The upper ends of saidsp ings are Siml larly connected, as shown in Figureti, with spirallygrooved connecting members 49, which members are provided with threadedbores in which are positioned the lower threaded ends ofbifurcated'studs 50. These studs are so positioned that their bifurcatedends will receive the lower ends of a pair of flexible tapes 51, whichhave their upper ends passed around the flange 34: of the actuator andsecured as at 52 to opposed axial portions-thereof, by this constructionit will i he manifest that by adjusting thetension of the springs 45 sothat the latter will pull evenly upon their tapes 51, the actuator'25will be maintained normally in imposition of true balance, in which thesegment-36 will be so positioned that the indicator 16 will normallyoccupy a zero position'upon the dial 15. Manifestlypby this=springbalance vibration will not affect the =scale,-inor: will irregularitiesin the level of the scale. This is a desirable feature, in that itenables the scale to be roughly positioned for perfect operationand-eliminates. the necessity of carefully adjusting the scale 'tosecure an absolute levelingTthereof. "Alsoy by the inclusion of thesprings 45, and particularly their "peculiar arrangement; 'r'temperaturefluctuations will not effect the readings of the scale, since it isapparent that the springs may contract and expand equally, a featurewhich serves to maintain the actuator in its true neutral position. Byadjusting the nuts 48 any desired tension of the springs may be securedand to cause the latter to not equally upon the actuator. When weight isapplied to the platform 3. the springs serve to resist and regulate theextent of oscillation of the actuator. one spring being forced toexpand. while the other is allowed.

to contract, thereby maintaining the balance of the actuator and atthe'same time limiting and regulating the degree of oscillation of theactuator. When weight is relieved from the platform 3, the springsautomatically serve to restore the actuator to its normal positi n. andto thereby return the indicator hand to zero.

From the foregoing description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings. it will be apparent that a scale is providedwherein the objects of the invention are to be attained and wherein allof the advantages above pointed out are, among others. present. By thepeculiar spring arrangement recited the advantages of the invention areprimarily achieved, said spring arrangement serving to avoid error inthe readings of the scale, and to provide a spring scale which willoperate efficiently even when subjected to adverse climatic conditionsor temperatures, since the springs 45 contract or expand equally, hencetheir effect upon the actuator will be uniform at all times. Frequently,scales of this nature are employed in establishments wherein rollingmachinery is to be found. This machinery frequently sets up aconsiderable amount of vibration. which under normal conditions has a.detrimental effect upon adjacent scales. However, by the constructiondescribed, the springs 45 normally serve to retain the actuatormotionless, thereby preventing vibration'from being transmitted to theindicator hand. It will of course be appreciated that the principlesabove set forth are not limited to the platform type of scale disclosedbut may be utilized with equal effect in scales of any nature orpurpose. \Vhile the foregoing description specifically sets forth whatis now believed to be the best mode of applying the principles of theinvention, yet it should be understood that said description does notnecessarily measure the invention, except as the latter is defined bythe following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a scale, a beam structure and a weighing platform associatedtherewith, an oscillatably mounted actuator, a connection between saidactuator and said beam structure, balanced spring mechanism cooperativewith axially opposite portions of said actuator for normally maintainingthe lat ter in neutral position, said mechanism being flexibly connectedwith the actuator and weight indicating mechanism arranged to registerin accord with the movement of said actuator.

2. In a scale, a beam structure and a weighing platform associatedtherewith, an oscillatably mounted actuator. a connection between saidactuator and said beam structure, a pair of spring structures flexiblycoir nected with the actuator and cooperating with axially oppositeportions of said actuator and balanced against each other to normallyhold said actuator in neutral position, said spring structures beinglocated beneath the level of said pivotal mounting to hold said actuatorseated in its mounting, and weight indicating mechanism arranged toregister in accord with the movement of said actuator.

3. In a scale, a beam structure and a weighing platform associatedtherewith. a pivotally mounted pull drum, :1 connection between saidbeam structure and said drum. a spring structure balanced to exert equalinfluences to opposite sides of the pivotal mounting of said drumindependently of said connection, and weight indicating mechanismarranged to register in accord with the movement of said drum.

4:. In a scale, a beam structure and a well-miner nd: n'rrhng'ecl re'exerr new in:

dividnaT-inflnenbes m cippbs negiclee ofth ivotal mounting? ofsaid drumindepe'nfi ntly of said ehnetiong anrr'weighi: maize; ing n'i'chzinismeirrange'cFto" register in" atcord with 'thmotemeht of ain-dram.

63in: a" rate, :1" bea'iY1 irfitilr"ind a weighingplntfornl" hssocifitedthrenifh,' 2i ivotafly mutated ull Minn; a mammal between ird b'eimsiruefiu're' and sand drifin', a pair of spring structure s'balahcedagilifnst each other and arranged toexert'the'n '1ndividdal influencesto oppositHsidEflO'fth' pi'i'btu'l 'mount i'ng o'fi said"'c1'tum''in'cle' ifitierit ly of swidmohnection, 'saidepritg stfitctfi'ie'sbeing located beneath the level" 0"E geid pixhtal mounting to'holdsaidtlrmn seated in its mo nntirig; an'd' weight imdieatihgf whetfl'ia nimarran'ge'ci tbTgiSter in adcbrd'with t'll movementof salidrlrnnh" I 7:In" 2L scziie',"arltfe'flin 'strhctrfre and" a Weighing latformas'sbeizhecr t'h'l e'ii ith, ii pivotally mounted pull drum, a comecnefibetween said drum and said' beam 'strnctn're, a pair of springs of'thesame eflecti't' size and expansivepro'pertles lmlfince'cf inst eachother and'airange(l' on opposite sitles of thepivo'tal' mounting of saiddrumin'crenendently of said connection 2ii 1*d 'loctfl hene'ath thelevel of said pivotal mounting to hold the drum'seatedin its'mmintin'g.and weight indicating mechanism" arrdn'geclj to register in accord withthe movement of said drum. 4

8. In a scale. a beam structure" and a said druh1, flexible' connectionsconnecting said'gprliigs with said drum on the other of szflikidiemeterfi said springs beinglocated beneatlf the level-of sarid pivotalmounting to hold said 'drumg seated in its mounting. a

counter-bhlaricecairied' by said drum for said-- first menti'ondconnection and" beam stirncliurefan'cl weight indicating me'cha- 9: Ina," smile, a =ben1h *striicture' and :1 weighing: platfoflnassociate'citherewith, a pivotally mountedrpu ll d [llm', a'flexible conneetionoperating off'said 'drum' andconnectin'g it 'with siiid-bea'mstructure,- a pair of spring? structures" provided with flexibleeotmeotion'to operateoff sali'd drum" b'al- .zided a'gaiinstfehcli otherand arranged" to eierttheir indifidual' influences u poh op poite-sidesofisaird drum by'mcan's of their flexible connecflionsgand weightindicating meehanism'mrrhnged toregister in accord withrthe yfnovment'of'safid'dri'im.

.JIOJ'IIT' a" scale, a beam strnctl'lre and a weighing platform'associatedtherewith, a pivotallymounted-' plll'l" (hnm, a flexibleconnection operati-ngoif sa'id drum and-connecting it-w'lthsaid beamstructurea pair of spring-structmes' provided with flexible connections-to-opcrate ofl" said drum" bal ended-against each-other and arranged toexert their inclividual influences u'pon op"- pDsi-te SidsOf said-drumby means of their flexible connections, said spring structures andtheirifiexible connection-s being-located beneath thelevel of saidpivotal mounting to hold said drum seated in its mounting, andweightindicating mechanism arranged to register in accord with the movement ofsaid drum.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature WALTER :5. SM 1TH.

